The Action Agenda Update Center
We want to work with you on the Partnership's main roadmap to Puget Sound recovery in 2011 - it is time to update the Puget Sound Action Agenda and its companion document, the Biennial Science Work Plan.
The Action Agenda, first developed in 2008, explains what a healthy Puget Sound is, describes the current state of Puget Sound, prioritizes cleanup and improvement efforts, and highlights opportunities for federal, state, local, tribal and private resources to invest and coordinate. It is a living document, designed to be adapted and adjusted. By statute, the near-term strategies and actions described in the Action Agenda must be updated every two years.
Why is the Action Agenda being updated?
The Partnership has a number of objectives for this update of the Action Agenda and Biennial Science Work Plan:
- Add recovery targets for many of the Dashboard of Ecosystem Indicators and targets for reduction of a number of pressures on Puget Sound
- Provide updated strategies and two-year actions to help guide the 2013-2015 State Biennium budget process (State agencies will begin work on these budgets in early 2012.)
- Inform other investment opportunities, including but not limited to years 3-6 of the Lead Organization strategies, which are primarily funded by EPA
- Bring sharper focus, refinement, and more prioritization to key strategies and actions, and increase implementers' support for strategies and activities
- Reflect updated scientific and technical information, including data from the Puget Sound Nearshore Ecosystem Restoration Project (PSNERP) and information from the Puget Sound Science Update
- Integrate findings from the Dashboard of Ecosystem Indicators reporting
During this process, the Partnership staff will work closely with the Science Panel, the Ecosystem Coordination Board, and the Leadership Council, as well as two Cross-Partnership Strategic Advisory Groups.
When will the Action Agenda be updated?
Work on updating the Action Agenda and Biennial Science Work Plan will take place throughout 2011 and 2012, with stakeholder workshops and public meetings in September and October and a draft available for public review from December 2011 through February 3, 2012. The Leadership Council will act on a final Action Agenda and Biennial Science Work Plan in April 2012. For more detail on the schedule for this work, click here.
What will the update to the Action Agenda focus on?
In June the Leadership Council adopted a set of targets related to Puget Sound recovery. The 2011 update to the Action Agenda will focus on developing strategies and actions that help achieve targets for reducing five pressures on the ecosystem:
- Land development
- Shoreline alteration
- Runoff from the built environment
- Wastewater
- Loss of floodplain function
Strategies and actions that are not directly related to achieving targets in those five pressure-reduction areas will be updated only as needed to bring more clarity, and reflect new information and progress.
To view the anticipated outline of all strategies and sub-strategies for the 2011 Action Agenda update, click here.
To view a summary table of draft near term actions for all Soundwide strategies for the 2011 Action Agenda update, click here.
For more information on strategies, actions, and how they will be developed, click here.
How can I participate in updates to the Action Agenda?
The Partnership will be working closely with key stakeholders and experts and conducting outreach on priorities for key strategies and actions. In addition, there will be online engagement opportunities for anyone interested in providing ideas and input to the Partnership. For more information about how to participate, click here.
If you have comments or questions on this information, please email actionagenda@psp.wa.gov.